The really big show this weekend happens tonight when the The Cappies of Greater Cincinnati
present their eighth annual awards for high school theater productions
and performers. Our local program is one of the most established, right
up there with programs in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and beyond. Our
local awards are presented at the Aronoff Center's Procter & Gamble
Hall. In addition to the recognition of high school student performers,
the evening offers excerpts from a dozen or so schools plus ensemble
numbers featuring kids from all over the region — more than 20 schools
participate in the program. An especially exciting aspect (at least from
my point of view as a critic) is the fact that an element of the
Cappies involves students attending one another's performances and
writing about them. Tonight will open with a recognition of the
outstanding boy and girl critics, and wrap up by citing the top team of
high school critics. I'll be onstage at the Aronoff to present that
award, as well as something new: An award for the "top critique" by a
student writer. I had the privilege of choosing the winner, which will
be posted on CityBeat's arts blog after the award ceremony. And to show how profoundly CityBeat
is committed to cultivating arts coverage, we're inviting that winner
to cover a high school Fringe Next production in the Cincinnati Fringe
Festival, which kicks off next week. No award for me, but I'm honored to
be asked to hand out this recognition to the next generation of theater
writers!

Speaking of the Cincinnati Fringe Festival, I should remind you that it kicks off with a special party hosted by CityBeaton Tuesday.

Performances begin on Wednesday evening (continuing through June 7). You can read my overview of the Fringe here
touching on the many aspects of creativity, talent, emotion and
flat-out fun that will be happening at venues throughout Over-the-Rhine
and the northern edge of Downtown Cincinnati. For more information: www.cincyfringe.com.

It's Memorial Day weekend, which is sort of the end of the local theater season, but there's still plenty to see. Size Matters, Ray McAnally's entertaining one-man show about his career as a "hefty" actor gets its final performance on Sunday (CityBeat review here; box office: 513-421-3555), and the Cincinnati Playhouse's taut drama The North Pool is still available on its Shelterhouse Stage (CityBeat review here; box office: 513-421-3888).

One last tidbit: After many years of producing shows aboard the Showboat Majestic,
Cincinnati Landmark Productions has pulled into port to stage its
summer productions on dry land. They just opened a production of Jerry
Herman's classic musical Hello, Dolly!, the kind of show that people have flocked to see on the 'Boatfor
decades. The Covedale Center for the Performing Arts is an interim
stop: By next summer, CLP intends to steam into its new facility, The Warsaw Federal Incline Theater.
If that name is unfamiliar, it's because it's just been announced. The
savings and loan has been a West Side institution since 1893, and it's
lending its venerable moniker to the brand-new 220-seat performing arts
center, slated to break ground this summer. The fundraising effort
seeking $5.6 million for the project is nearing completion. In the
meantime, catch Hello, Dolly! between now and June 1. Tickets: 513-241-6550.